Written by: Shawn Lim

Tampines Rovers took home bragging rights from the third “Eastern Derby” of the season after handing Geylang International an impressive 4-1 thrashing at Bedok Stadium on Tuesday night.

Goals from Mateo Roskam, Fabian Kwok, Rodrigo Tosi and Aqhari Abdullah in both halves helped the Stags to clinch the important three points, as they inched closer to Brunei DPMM at the top of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League standings.

Shawal Anuar pulled a goal back for the hosts in stoppage time, but it proved to be mere consolation for the Eagles.

The visitors came out flying from the first whistle and Roskam had Geylang custodian Yazid Yasin scrambling across his goal in the 11th minute after he fired a volley on the turn, which went inches wide.

Five minutes later, a searching free-kick from Shaiful Esah found Rodrigo Tosi, but the striker was unable to keep his header down, as the ball flew harmlessly over the woodwork.

Tosi then won possession in midfield four minutes later and played an eye-of-the-needle ball through to Roskam, who swept the ball past Yazid with his first touch to break the deadlock for the Stags.

Tampines subsequently doubled their lead in the 26th minute when the Eagles failed to clear a long throw from Ismail Yunos.

The ball found its way to Kwok, who fired a magnificent 30-yard piledriver with his first touch into the top corner of the net, leaving Yazid rooted to the spot.

Inui could have pulled a goal back for the visitors two minutes later when he unleashed a thunderous left-foot volley in the 18-yard box that looked destined for the net, but Tampines custodian Rodrigo Pacheco pulled off a top-drawer save at his near post to deny him.

Tampines replicated their start to the first half after the interval and found their third goal in the 55th minute, effectively killing off any hopes the hosts had of mounting a comeback.

After Jozef Kaplan was adjudged to have caused an infringement in the 18-yard box, referee Farhad Mohd awarded a penalty to the Stags.

Tosi then stepped up and slammed his spot kick into the bottom left corner of the net with Yazid going the wrong direction, for his 11th goal of the season.

The Stags continued to press forward in spite of their advantage and could have added a fourth goal when Roskam split the Eagles’ defence open with an exquisite pass to an unmarked Ismadi in the 75th minute.

However, the Singapore International footballer’s first touch was poor as Yazid came off his line to claim the ball.

There was no stopping Tampines from getting their fourth goal though, and they duly found it when substitute Aqhari Abdullah – who had only been on the pitch for less than three minutes – turned in Shaiful’s cross from close range.

The away team took their foot off the gas as the game drew to a close and allowed Shawal to run in behind their defence unchallenged after a counter-attack by Geylang.

The midfielder then side-footed the ball past a stranded Pacheco into the bottom corner of the net as referee Farhad blew for the final whistle immediately after the goal.

Geylang International: Yazid Yasin (GK), Yuki Ichikawa, Kento Fukada, Hafiz Osman, Syed Thaha (Huzaifah Aziz 78’), Anaz Hadee (Shawal Anuar 55’), Tatsuro Inui, Shah Hirul (Zulkifli Sulizman 74’), Hafiz Nor, Jozef Kaplan (C), Bruno Castanheira

Tampines Rovers: Rodrigo Pacheco (GK), Ismadi Mukhtar (Aqhari Abdullah 80’), Jufri Taha, Fahrudin Mustafic (C) (Isa Halim 74’), Shaiful Esah, Pedrag Pocuca, Naeem Rohimi, Ismail Yunos, Fabian Kwok, Mateo Roskam (Noh Alam Shah 83’), Rodrigo Tosi